Offensive explosions occurred coast to coast this week with more than the average number of players posting hat tricks to help power their team to victory. Playmakers are emerging on both sides of the ball as teams begin to gel and establish their 2018 identity.
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Javier Carbonell – Senior – Forward – Georgia Southern | Carbonell displayed a variety of finishing skills when he placed four in the back of the net to lead Georgia Southern to a 5-3 come from behind win over Jacksonville University. Carbonell scored out of a free kick, converted a penalty kick, drove a shot into the net from twenty-five yards out, and converted a header out of a free kick served in by Aldair Cortes. The Eagles halt a two game losing streak to improve to 3-2-1. |
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Andre Shinyashiki – Senior – Forward – Denver | Shinyashiki had a five goal week. He placed a shot into the bottom right corner of the net after receiving a through ball and curled a shot into the far corner of the frame in Denver's 3-1 win over Harvard. He also scored three times to lead Denver past San Francisco. Shinyashiki has scored a total of thirteen goals so far this year. Denver improves to 6-0-1. |
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Damian German – Senior – Forward – San Diego State | German played a key role in San Diego State's 2-0 win over Brown. He made a nice move off the dribble after receiving a pass from Emil Kjellker to create the space and angle needed to drive a picture perfect shot into the near post. He also scored after running onto a well played long ball from AJ Valenzuela that set up a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. San Diego State has now won three in a row to improve to 3-2-1. |
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Abdou Mbacke Thiam – Senior – Forward – UConn | Mbacke Thiam has been an impact player at Connecticut since arriving on campus in 2015. This week he produced a hat trick including the game-winning goal in extra time to propel the Huskies past Loyola Maryland 3-2. He converted a header from inside the box, placed the rebound of a blocked shot into the back of the frame, and nailed the game-winning header out of a free kick in the 106th minute of the match. UConn improves to 4-2-0. |
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Shak Adams – Junior – Forward – FGCU | Adams netted a hat trick to help propel FGCU past instate rival South Florida 5-3. Adams' first score came when he rose to drive a header into the net after receiving a cross from Dennis Zapata. He scored his second goal of the evening after running onto a well played through ball from teammate Jordan Lue. Adams' third goal was a shot to the near post that was set up by a nice move and pass from defender Titouan Le Menec. FGCU is 3-2-0. |
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Cal Jennings – Junior – Forward – UCF | Jennings, who had a five goal and one assist week, was at the heart of an explosive UCF attack. He scored twice and contributed an assist in UCF's 3-1 on the road win over FIU. He also scored three times, recording his second hat trick of the 2018 season, to play a key role in the Knight's 4-2 come from behind win on the road over Stetson. UCF improves to 5-1-1. |
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Jesus Perez – Junior – Midfielder – UIC | Perez makes good things happen. He contributed the assist out of a corner kick on teammate Peter Becht's header in UIC's 2-0 win over DePaul. He also converted a header with a double assist from Markell Saddler and Manny Cerritos and scored from six yards out after receiving a pass from Alwin Seitz to play a key role in UIC's 4-0 win over IUPUI in Horizon League play. The Flames are 6-1-0. |
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Trevor Swartz – RS Senior – Midfielder – Indiana | Swartz is a playmaker as reflected in his four assist week. He contributed an assist on the goals scored by AJ Palazzolo and Justin Rennicks in Indiana's 2-1 win over Notre Dame. He also contributed a helper on Andrew Gutman's two goals in IU's 3-1 win over Wisconsin in a Big Ten Conference contest. Swartz has a total of eight assists in seven contests this year. Indiana improves to 6-1-0. |
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Devin Boyce – Junior – Midfielder – Saint Louis | Boyce scored twice and added a helper on teammate John Klein's goal to lead the Billikens past Tulsa 3-0 on the road. He also assisted on Klein's goal in Saint Louis' 2-1 victory over Central Arkansas. Saint Louis has now won four straight to improve to 3-1-2. They will host rival SIUE on Friday, September 21 in what shapes up to be a very competitive match. |
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Alex Greive – Sophomore – Midfielder – Northern Kentucky | Greive had a very productive five assist week to help Northern Kentucky secure a 3-0 win over Evansville and a 2-1 win over Green Bay. He contributed a helper on the goals scored by Connor Probert, Alex Willis and Calvin Murphy in the win over Evansville and assisted on the goals scored by Willis and Rikard Lindqvist in the victory over Green Bay. The Norse improve to 6-1-0. |
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Matt Nance – GS – Defender – Xavier | After missing the 2017 season due to injury, Nance returned to the pitch to make a positive impact on both sides of he ball for the Musketeers. He was part of a solid Xavier defensive effort in a 0-0 tie with Kentucky and contributed three assists in the Musketeers come-from-behind 3-2 on the road win against Georgetown in a Big East Conferene contest. Xavier improves to 3-0-3. |
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Ben Thornton – Senior – Defender – Western Michigan | Thornton was a key contributor in Western Michigan's wins over Cincinatti and UMBC. He scored out of a corner kick put in play by Cameron Sipple in the Broncos 2-0 on the road win over Cincinnati. He also was part of a stout Western Michigan defense that allowed just one shot on goal in route to a 2-0 victory over UMBC. The Broncos have rebounded with three straight wins to improve to 4-4-0. |
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Josh Lagudah – Junior – Goalkeeper – Loyola Chicago | Lagudah anchored a Rambler defense that shutout a very good SIUE team 2-0. Lagudah had an impressive eight save evening that included several huge saves at point blank range from inside the box. It was a gutsy performance by Lagudah and his Loyola Chicago teammates. The Ramblers halt a two-game losing streak to improve to 2-3. |
